Knights of Tezoth

thought we'd all post together with the second conk, oh well.

A manuscript written in sweeping, beautiful handwriting is laid on the table before the controller:

The Epoch of Fire and Steel

Such a pompous name for this period, sounding to the accustomed ear more like an era of conquests, could well deceive an uninformed person, painting for them a picture of protracted campaigns, thousands of sword-sworn warriors and civilians, and hundreds of burned settlements, whereas the real history would tell of technological progress that brought light to a region of fragmented jurisdictions. And yet, any other chronicler who would have imbued such meaning would, now and then, have twisted the truth.

Human nature, much to our regret about it, does not presuppose unwavering mutual cooperation in all possible directions, and even a mastodon like our long-standing founder could not manage without violence. Even if through only short-lived campaigns, he could not avoid staining his hands.

What he felt about this is known only to his contemporaries, but from generally accepted historiography we can conclude that he was driven to no small degree by a sense of duty. In my view, this is a motivator of the highest order, but in such strange circumstances in which it is capable of manifesting itself — like those we have from the records of the beginning of his crusade — it alone seems insufficient to me. Look at yourself, your neighbors and loved ones, and estimate how many of you would take such a step. With all due respect to the founder, surely there was also a drop of ambition here, not necessarily selfish. Perhaps he wanted to show his newly acquired mastery to the world, or perhaps this emotion was instilled in him from outside, bit by bit eroding his iron heart, until from the crack that appeared, a deeply sealed flame finally burst forth.

Perhaps the chroniclers deliberately embedded a double meaning in the epoch's metaphor, as a puzzle for their descendants to crack?

And yet, even with this hypothesis in mind, reliance on historical data, for all its firmness, shows the image of a man maximally focused on his goal, disciplined and strategically minded, capable of showing mercy where necessary, and leading followers after him without succumbing to the vice of intoxication with power and strength. I am convinced that the region's population was lucky to have such a leader, because more often than not, the images of past heroes show the opposite.

I feel no inclination toward protocol-based analysis of individual historical events; all who have familiarized themselves with the official records know them perfectly well, and ladies and gentlemen whose hearts lie with such a method will do it rightfully better than I. My interest is spurred by the attempt to feel the very spirit of the epoch: what drives the people inhabiting it, as well as the figures whose names are forever sealed on the pages of the works of generations of gray-haired copyists. And we can summarize with an unambiguous, if not the most elegant, conclusion that without the foundation laid by the founder, the kingdom could not have appeared in its current form — a place where people of previously fragmented regions, of various traditions and cultures, can coexist in relative harmony and prosperity, live by their own way, raise children, develop science and art, without fear of being destroyed the next day in yet another tragic epic of struggle for resources and prestige.

The Epoch of Sorcery

Everyone knows the aphorism: "Men are valued for their deeds, women for their essence." For all its anecdotal nature, I believe some would find it applicable here solely due to the contrast of bordering epochs.

Much is known about the deeds of the founder, who personally conquered a significant number of territories and built brick by brick the life we know now, while the heiress is remembered for focusing on the internal development of what fell into her hands. Perhaps this was the natural course of events — any expansion sooner or later proves limited by external factors. And yet, the idea of imagining any other heir on the monarch's seat remains intriguing, and of estimating where the river of history would have turned.

However, I am convinced that the first part of this period is the best in the history of our region with regard to historiography, though some might argue with me. On the fertile soil of the previously laid richest, most thoughtful, and well-tuned foundation, it was possible both to cultivate new prosperity, and to unite its inhabitants in a productive manner, and to develop an ethic that warmly resonates in the heart of a good person, and not by force-feeding it, but organically — like the gradual warming of weary nature by a slowly rising sun.

And yet, behind every dawn inevitably follows a sunset, before this cycle repeats again. I have no right, neither fact-based nor ethical, to unequivocally condemn the decision, in such a successful position, to enter a war of attrition for a quarter of a century, even if it did not bring a Pyrrhic result, but to my heart it seems a great tragedy. Whether it was the heiress's inexperience in military matters compared to her predecessor, or the geographical or political nuances of that conflict, I cannot judge, and even in the documents I had the honor to review, I observed various theories from different analysts. I fear we will never know the whole truth here.

The works I happened to study on these epochs nowhere mentioned the personality of the founder's wife. I am sure that scholars devoted to researching the matter have an unambiguous answer to this, but I can only give free rein to my imagination.

For all the centuries that man has existed on this earth, he has relied only on the strength of his muscles, the ingenuity of his mind, and material tools, carving his way through darkness and cold with them. And now, in merely the third generation, we have a representative of the dynasty who overcame this unattainable horizon. Was it a singular miracle, randomly manifested among millions of probabilities, or a natural scenario for the founder's heiress, given the mysterious circumstances of his rise? I think this question will remain romantically unsaid. I only regret that I will never be able to look upon Their Benevolence even with one eye, and discern hints of answers in her ephemeral silhouette.

The Epoch of Luxury

It would not be easy for me to assess the contribution of the next descendant as unequivocally positive. The "if it works, don't break it" approach certainly has an absolute right to exist. Having satisfied primary and secondary needs, it seems natural to move on to higher ones, which the Deus of that period implemented with all grace. Had he not made the effort inspired by vision, we would surely have lost much in historical perspective, and Densec would probably be just another nondescript transit port or naval base. Only his personal impulse allows us to admire the splendor of the western capital and enjoy its excesses, which justly spread throughout the kingdom.

However, having turned off the heart and given free rein to the cold rational mind, we see that this achievement belongs to the final stretch of his reign, which he arrived at by pure chance. Taking into perspective the dubious reputation of the epochs that followed, as much as I regret to admit it, a picture of stagnation emerges, where the ruler did not devote due time to the development of the kingdom or the preparation of an heir, but only to his own amusements. I also do not understand why exactly he became the next king of kings, based on the system laid down by the founder. Surely there were those more interested in governing the kingdom, and more charismatic ones. I do not see that he himself wanted to sit on the throne.

Were I a suspicious person, I would decide that during this epoch new players entered the game, desiring to take over the board through backroom methods. The cyclical principle known to everyone — strong people create good times, which give rise to weak people, leading to bad times: the strength and discipline of the founder remained far in the past, his granddaughter led the people to satiety and contentment, and the subsequent quarter-century war weakened the will of the population and the grip of the dynasty.

Had Their Enigmaticness not inherited the throne and remained a wandering adventure hero, I would be the first to sing of his feats and be inspired by his courage and free spirit. But as far as I can judge from my limited perspective, these are not the qualities that can compensate for the absence of other vitally important ones on such a path.

The Epoch of Darkness

The subsequent turn of the wheel seems quite natural to me, but it can be assessed in different ways. Proponents of historical and political skepticism would probably claim, based on the reputation of the next heir, that he was greedy for absolute power and dictatorship, due to some of his particular personal qualities. Perhaps, but only the closest of his contemporaries could say with certainty.

Another point of view seems more interesting to me: perhaps Their Malevolence felt a similar emotion regarding the previous period, and intended to correct those shortcomings they considered the most egregious, to the extent of their awareness of them. I am sure the current ruler read the chronicles and listened to stories about the strength of his great founder-ancestor, but neither regions to conquer nor expansive plans were suggested by the situation, thereby leaving only a retreat into internal politics.

I cannot consider the methods employed close to my heart, and I would hardly have been delighted had I lived in that era, although who knows — man is a creature that adapts and is capable of prospering in any situation, especially in conditions of acting without looking back at a brighter past. But I understand the logic: previous epochs overly relaxed the people, the rivalry on the continent did not miraculously evaporate anywhere, and any suddenly arising cruel challenge to the kingdom could have been met catastrophically.

Again returning to the previously voiced idea of behind-the-scenes play during the previous epoch, we could introduce an additional factor into this equation. A Deus like Their Malevolence, not shying away from shadowy methods, would surely have been aware of these secret movements, and would have tried to influence them with the aim of eradication. The reverse variant is also possible, but in this hypothesis I lean toward it less solely due to the events witnessed by the end of the epoch.

No tyrant and intriguer would ever appear on the front line and fight against a hitherto unseen existential threat to his subjects, especially shoulder to shoulder with rival rulers. A man of this sort would have plunged headfirst into the turmoil, spotting a rarest opportunity; he would make empty moves, beautiful in appearance but empty in substance, waiting only for the convenient moment to strike a decisive blow at the enemy's most vulnerable spot. He would seek ways to pit them against each other or crush them all at once, build false alliances and give empty promises he never intended to keep.

Based on what I have studied in official documents, I am inclined to think that Their Malevolence was a decisive and desperate man. Certainly viewing events through the lens of his peculiar perception, anticipating the kingdom's future and feverishly seeking ways to prevent that future which he foresaw for it. Wanting to return the founder's fire before the epoch of darkness thickened so much that air would stop passing into the lungs — by any available means, in whatever way he could.

The Epoch of Blue Blood

I am often asked: "My lord, tell us how you came to serve Their Radiance," expecting to hear a thrilling story of feats and tireless labor that is surely rewarded according to all laws of the universe. And I tell it, but I always emphasize that the main thing is luck: to be in the right place at the right time, and not to end up in the wrong one.

For some of us, that factor, rooted in the century before last, was the events of precisely this epoch. Some of the more distant moments of the past outlined the foundation and laid the preconditions, but it was in these eighty years that they took shape into what we have now.

From the standpoint of the previously voiced "backroom theory," as I call it, the page was finally turned in its favor, which one can only lament if one's soul lies with the old order. But a rational assessment of whether this was for good or for ill for the population and in the overall scheme of things is not so simple.

Under the new arrangement, a repetition of the shortcomings of preceding periods became impossible, but it opened space for new frictions. Some of them were resolved by compromise with the population and neighbors, some quite certainly by cruelty, from which the victims could no longer be protected by global royal law. Some will certainly say that in contrast to the harsh legislation of the previous period, this was still for the better — I am sure the new powers-that-be used this argument constantly, sucking all the soul and bone marrow out of it, tossing the subjects paltry scraps of little worth, skillfully defusing moments of discontent and polishing sharp corners.

As for the new Deus — while her role is perfectly clear, I am at a loss in assessing her personality. Historical documents describe in abundance all her actions aimed at entertaining the subjects, but for obvious reasons, they do not go deeper than the most superficial description.

I consider it natural to assume that being the nominal first person of a transitional period, deprived of many dynasty tools tested over centuries — is a tragic fate, while maintaining a heart's attachment to the old order. Did Their Brilliance have such an attachment? Was there political will, and were there, if it existed, any options for its realization? Or, like a kingdom weary of a recent collapse, did she prefer to go with the flow and do only what was within her immediate reach? Yet more historical questions left unanswered.

The Epoch of Discoveries

Another loud name, presumably meant to reflect an epoch of incredible development and progress, but how much of that actually happened?

Subjectively, it seems that apart from contact with a new group of people — or persons? — who told fascinating tales, nothing. But objectively, in the conditions of a continent where people's consciousness and way of life are determined by their material existence, they turned out to be the ones who introduced the idea of the existence of higher forces beyond the reach of human capabilities.

Being a practical and scientific man, I cannot seriously consider the existence of a supernatural divine entity. If such exists and we are not indifferent to it in a positive sense, how is it that our civilizations periodically suffer from cataclysms? Where were these people and their Aconia when Their Malevolence fell under the onslaught of hordes of mutants, without releasing the weapon from his hands?

Why do wars happen in which civilians die? Why do some children not live to adulthood, being the most innocent of souls? Moreover, the very concept of the soul, however majestic it sounds, defies analysis. It is unclear how to detect it. If the offended and innocently slain fall into the crater and receive material embodiment, where is the embodiment of all the others? One could devise a great number of various thought experiments and paradoxes that will remain unresolved in the topic of discussion about such a higher power.

And yet, the very idea of such a belief seems intriguing to me. No matter how strong and firm a man may be, no matter how good his personal philosophy, it has its limit. But is there such a limit to faith in the divine? It seems to me that a sincerely believing person is capable, on the pure strength of will, of overcoming the most severe trials — if not for himself, then for the sake of his unattainable patron.

"If you don't study magic, everything seems like science" — and the reverse of this expression is determined exclusively by the familiar material world. Perhaps someday I too will get to behold a particle of the divine, add it to this identity, and change my view of things; for now, I lean only toward a beautiful and majestic metaphor.

Perhaps this is exactly what the Deus of that period lacked. Having chased all the options at once, he could never choose the one true one.

The Epoch of Ambitions

The shortest, but in my opinion, incredibly important period of modern history, which for the first time in long centuries brought the kingdom out of states of suffering and stagnation. And I do not mean the conquest of territories, but that at last the kingdom regained a vision and a vector of movement. Perhaps this is fundamentally embedded in human nature: gradual decline in a state of comfort and in the absence of external stimuli, new horizons to achieve, and ideas to implement.

Recalling previous epochs, abstracting from philosophical concepts claiming truth, at least on dry absolute historical experience we can see that over the long run, events tend to unfold exactly this way. Someday historians and knights of the future will analyze our modern period, and make guesses and theories taking into account our hypotheses, analyzing our works, and looking back at past epochs, perhaps through a new prism of perception of all the events that await us.

Taking into perspective all the studied, contemplated, and documented history, as well as the above-described musings, by my personal taste I would trim some of the epithets that His Majesty is attributed by the young men who most romanticize his image. If we were to allow the possibility of the existence of a soul, I would say that he was most of all close to a reincarnation of the founder, for quite understandable reasons. Perhaps, by an evil joke of fate, he was born too late, in times when ancient heroes can no longer, with their characteristic ease, play by the rules of the old world, when everything was simpler and clearer.

However, the very fact of his appearance and reign — so recent — lifts my spirit. Perhaps the wheel of history has finally turned through all its degrees, and a new renaissance awaits us.

In summary, if I were asked to rate all documented epochs from worst to best, I would think very hard. Even in the most hopeless of them, there were good features.

But at the time of writing this work, I feel I would arrange them thus: the epoch of luxury, the epoch of blue blood, the final part of the epoch of sorcery, the epoch of discoveries, the epoch of darkness, the epoch of ambitions, the epoch of fire and steel, the main part of the epoch of sorcery.

If the soul and its rebirth exist, and if someday historians of the future find my work and decide to mock it, I hope I will be able to learn where they would place the current epoch by its results.

"Leisurely reflections on lost centuries" — Lord Lester Vargas, Knight of the Dawn Steel from Kanamia, servant of Deus Marianelia.

05.03.297 OOT